Bicycle.



Patented Mar. ll, I902. A. N. MILLER.

BICYCLE filed Aug. rs, 1901.)

(Applicafion (No Model.)

m J J turn drains Parnsir @rrrca ADOLPH N. MILLER, OF NORTH MILIVAUKEE,IVISCONSIN.

BICYCLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 695,164, dated March11, 1902.

Application filed August 5,1901. Serial No. 70,878. No model.

To (0% whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADOLPH N. MILLER, a citizen of the United States,residing at North Milwaukee, county of Milwaukee, and State ofWisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Bicycles, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in that class of bicycles in whichthe two pedalcranks and the crank-axle are formed of a single piece; andit pertains more especially, first, to the construction and arrangementof the stationary exterior annular ball-bearing collars and the means ofholding them in place in the hub, and, second, to the construction andarrangement of the revoluble interior ball-bearing collars and theseparable annular capping-plates,which are detachably interlockedtherewith and serve to close the ends of the hub,

The construction of my invention is explained by reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 represents a side view of abicyclehub, part broken away to show my improvements. Fig. 2 is an endview ofthe bicyclehub, the axle of the crank being shown incross-section. Fig. 3 represents one of the two series of ball-bearingsand their retaining-frame removed from the hub. Fig. l represents afront View of an annular disk for closing the ends of the hub around theaxle of the crank-hanger removed from the hub. Fig. 5 represents a frontView of one of the interior ball-bearing collars, one of which is usedateach end of the crank-axle. Fig. 6 represents a sectional view of theannular capping-plate for closing the end of the hub and the interiorball-bearing collar,with which it is interlocked, removed from thecrank.

Like parts are identified by the same reference-letters throughout theseveral views.

Referring to Fig. 1, the pedatcranks A and B and crank-axle C are formedin a single piece. To the respective ends of the crankaxle O (which axlecomprises the horizontal shaft between the two cranks) are secured theball-bearing collars D D by screw-threaded joints E, the diameters ofthe openings F being such as to permit said hearings to pass freely-overthe ends of the cranks when putting them in place. Theexteriorball-bearing collars G are held in place within 'the walls ofthe hub II by a closelyfitting unthreaded joint, said parts being forcedtogether with suflicient pressure to insure apcrmanent joint betweenthem.

I represents a series of balls which are located between the opposingball-bearing collars D and G, as shown in Fig. l, the series of balls Ibeing secured in place at uniform distances apart by the ball-retainingcollar J, which is of ordinary construction. The ballbearing collars Ghaving been forced in the respective ends of the hub II, as shown inFig. 1, the series of balls I are placed within said bearing,when theinterior bearing-collars D are passed over the shank B and screwed onthe thread E of the crank-axle, as indicated in said figure, whereby theseries of balls I are retained in place between said hearings. When thisis done, the annular capping-plate K is also passed over the crank andsecured in place upon the annular flange L of the interior ball-bearingD, as indicated in Fig. 6. The annular capping-plate K is provided withan inwardly-projecting lug N, which is adapted to engage in acorresponding recess 0, provided therefor in the annular flange L, whereby said capping-plate K is interlocked and caused to revolve with saidinterior ball-beating collars D as the crank and axle are retated in theact of driving the bicycle. When the annular capping-plate K is thusinterlocked with the interior ball bearing D, it is held in place by theclamping-nut P, which is screwed upon the same thread E with saidinterior ball-bearing collar firmly against the annular washer Q, whichwasher is interposed between the clamping-nut P and the cappingplate K,while the inner edge of said washer also bears simultaneously againstthe opposing edge of the flange L, whereby said annular capping-plate Kis securely held in place upon said interior ball-bearing D.

I-Ieretofore ithas been common to construct the interior hall-bearingcollar integral with the annular capping-plate. By my improvement,however, such parts are made separable from two different kinds ofmetal, whereby a very important object is attained. It is a well-knownfact that it is desirous to form the ball-bearings of a bicycle ofchilled steel or from hard metal that will be subject to the leastpossible wear, while it is also desirous in that class of work to formthe parts as thin and light as the required strength will permit, and itwill therefore be understood that when the ball-bearing D andcappingplate K are formed integral of a single piece of highly-temperedsteel the capping-plate K will be brittle and liable to break if made ofthe desired thinness. By my improvement I am enabled to form thecapping-plate K of thin sheet metal Which is tough and flexible, whilethe ball bearing D can be made of highly-tempered steel, whereby both ofsaid parts are much more durable than it would be possible to make themif they were constructed in a single piece from the same quality ofmetal. I am also enabled by this construction to make the capping-plateK much thinner than it would be practicable to make it if constructed ofa more brittle material. A no less importantobject is also attained bythe present form of construction in that the capping-plates K can bestruck up from sheet metal at about one-twentieth the cost that they'canbe if made of cast metal, as a large amount of lathework is therebyavoided. 'lhecappingplates K are provided with rightangular fianges R,which are adapted to overlap and surround the respective ends of the hubII, as. shown in Fig. 1. s

It will of course be understood that in that class of bicycles in whichthe pedal-cranks are formed of two separate pieces the hub may be madebut slightly larger than the crank-axle, in which case the necessity ofusing an annular capping-plate for closing the end of the hub isavoided; but owing to the fact that by the present form of construction,in which the pedal cranks and axle are formed integral, it becomesnecessary to greatly increase the diameter of the hub, so that thesingle-piece pedal-crank may be insorted through it, it becomesnecessary to either increase the diameter of the interior ball-bearingcollar, so at to close the ends of the hub, or to provide a separatecappingplate for closing such ends, as herein described.

With the above-described construction it is not necessary to remove theexterior ballbearing cones or collars to insert or remove the one-piececrank, as the size of the apertures in the cones allows the'manipulationof the crank therethrough. By providing the capping-plate and inner coneor collar with the interlocking projections and recesses the cap-platemay be used as a wrench to adjust the cone and may be entirely removedas soon as the cone is adjusted, thus permitting access to the ballswithout removing the cone.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

In a bicycle, the combination of pedal cranks and axle in a singlepiece, and provided with screw-threads for the interior bearing-cones,acrank-han ger havi n g exterior ball-bearing collars permanently securedtherein and adapted to permit the manipulation of the crankthcrethrough; interior threaded bearing cones or collars adapted toengage the screw-threaded portion of the crank-shaft; an annularcapping-plate engaged with and covering the ends of the crankhangersleeve; said plate and interior hearingcollar having interlockingprojections and recesses; and means for secu ring the annular plate inposition.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

ADOLPH N. MILLER. Witnesses:

J AS. I3. ERWIN, O. L. ROESCH.

